"Uncle, could you please line up? Don't you see there are already so many people here?"
A lively young girl with twin ponytails frowned, pointing at the three black-robed men.
"You…"
One of the black-robed men's voices turned cold as a sinister aura instantly spread out.
Just as Neuvillette's eyes narrowed and he was about to act—
The leader turned his head. His cold gaze fell on the black-robed man, and in an instant the aura receded, as if nothing had happened.
Zhang Peng felt the cult leader's gaze fall on him, sweat dripping from his forehead. He opened his mouth but quickly lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
"Remember, our mission right now is to stay low-key, to minimize our presence. Shrek is filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers; the slightest carelessness could expose us."
"We're here in search of the Purest Undead Body. This is our first chance. If there's a next time and you ruin the Cult's grand plan, I will skin you alive and tear you apart."
Zhongli Wu spoke lightly, no longer sparing a glance at the shivering Scorpion Tiger Douluo, his body drenched in cold sweat.
Instead, he turned around and, with a faintly apologetic tone, spoke to the lively girl.
"My subordinate lacks discipline. I apologize."
"We won't be taking the fish."
With that, he turned and strode away.
Neuvillette looked at the smug young girl dressed in Shrek's Outer Court uniform—her talent was not low. He shook his head slightly, exhaling softly.
This girl… she probably had no idea she just brushed past death.
"Teacher Neuvillette, the grilled fish is ready!" Wang Dong came running over in an apron, beaming as he handed over a skewer.
Everyone else carried on as if nothing had happened, unaware of how close they had been to death. Only Neuvillette cast a thoughtful glance at the figures of the three departing men…
"Huh? Is Yutong selling grilled fish again? Do you have a portion for me today? What? You don't? Come on, with our relationship… What do you mean, no? Wang Dong, you brat, don't sow discord between us. My relationship with Yutong is like—ah, Senior Neuvillette, you're here too?"
Xu Sanshi's mouth twitched. Only then did he realize his situation.
The carefree, brash attitude he'd had just a moment ago instantly shriveled up, like a mouse facing a cat. This sudden change left his classmates around him staring in surprise.
"What kind of relationship? Say it."
Neuvillette withdrew his gaze, glancing at the now-wilted Xu Sanshi, his tone indifferent.
"Hehe, it's just—just the most ordinary relationship between senior and junior…"
Xu Sanshi stood as if punished, plastering on a sycophantic smile.
"Enough. Don't clown around in front of me."
Neuvillette waved a hand dismissively.
Xu Sanshi wasn't a bad person—just a bit reckless.
Seeing this, Xu Sanshi carefully retreated to the side, glaring at Wang Dong, though he didn't dare talk back.
Wang Dong only chuckled, pointing at Neuvillette with a mischievous look that said, What can you do to me?
Seeing this, Xu Sanshi immediately shrank again.
Before long, Beibei and Tang Ya arrived hand in hand, joining the lively group. Their laughter and chatter made for a warm, pleasant scene.
Half an hour later, the grilled fish sold out. Many who missed out sighed helplessly and left, vowing to come earlier the next evening.
The trio began packing up their stall.
The crowd thinned.
"Go. Kneel!!"
The sudden voice rang out, drawing every gaze around.
There, Dai Huabin—who that very morning had still been acting so arrogant—now had his face swollen like a pig's head, blood dribbling from his mouth, his whole body on the verge of collapse.
He was being dragged by his elder brother Dai Yueheng, whose face was full of fury. With a heavy kick to his backside, Dai Huabin was sent crashing to his knees before the stall, right in front of the young girl Huo Yutong.
"Ah…"
Huo Yutong gasped, covering her mouth with her pale hand, startled. She instinctively looked toward Neuvillette, who still sat calmly nearby.
For a moment, she didn't know what to do.
Dai Yueheng gave Dai Huabin another vicious kick. Unable to hold himself up, Dai Huabin pitched forward, hitting the ground face-first like a dog eating dirt.
"Neuvillette, this matter is my fault. I failed in discipline. I never imagined this brat would…"
Seeing that Neuvillette remained utterly unresponsive, sitting with eyes closed and lightly tapping his staff, Dai Yueheng's heart sank.
Truthfully, he hadn't known anything about the incident.
The twist of fate came when Dai Huabin, humiliated after wetting his pants earlier that day, went home seething and decided to drag his big brother out to seek revenge.
But when Dai Yueheng found out their target was Neuvillette, he nearly leapt out of his skin in fright. His face pale, he questioned his brother anxiously, and upon hearing that Neuvillette had actually been angered, terror gripped him. He promptly beat Dai Huabin black and blue.
In Shrek Academy—of all people to provoke, why Neuvillette?!
After over a decade of knowing him, Dai Yueheng was very clear on Neuvillette's temperament. He rarely lost his temper—but once he did, it meant the matter was grave…
From Dai Huabin's evasive eyes, Dai Yueheng pieced together the truth of what had happened. He was completely numb with dread.
Others might not know, but he did. He had been present ten years ago at the Duke's Mansion, the very day of that incident.
Now that the young girl had come to Shrek Academy, even though Neuvillette outwardly appeared indifferent, everyone could see the attention he paid her. Perhaps only the girl herself remained oblivious.
And you chose to lay hands on her?
Hearing Dai Huabin's halting account of the scene when Neuvillette grew angry, Dai Yueheng nearly fainted. He felt as if an ice storm had gathered over their heads.
This wasn't just a beating for Dai Huabin—if handled poorly, even the entire White Tiger Duke's Mansion might be dragged down with him.
Neuvillette's strength was already terrifying, and he was only seventeen years old!!
A seventeen-year-old peak Soul Sage… how monstrous would his future achievements be? Dai Yueheng didn't dare imagine.
And so came this scene of bearing the rod and begging forgiveness.
Around them, many Inner Court students were present. Seeing the once-mighty Dai Yueheng, now so humble and deferential, shock filled their faces.
"What happened?"
"I heard this afternoon that student Dai Yueheng's younger brother—the one kneeling there all beaten up—apparently threatened the girl that Senior Neuvillette favors…"
"What the—!"
The onlookers gasped.
"And it actually made Senior Neuvillette angry…"
"WHAT?!"
Everyone's jaws dropped as they stared at the swollen-faced Dai Huabin.
"I remember the last time Senior Neuvillette got angry… wasn't it half a year ago, when he thrashed that hundred-thousand-year soul beast?"
Someone shrank their neck, whispering nervously.
Neuvillette turned his gaze toward Dai Huabin, then slowly stood.
With a calm expression, he walked toward Dai Yueheng.
He let out a soft sigh.
(End of Chapter)